Maritime authorities were investigating two separate attacks reported in the Red Sea overnight in an area where Iran-aligned Houthis have targeted global shipping.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received a report of an explosion 174 kilometers northwest of Yemen’s Hodeidah early Tuesday morning.
The report came about two hours after a separate incident was reported by the captain of a ship 117 kilometers southwest of Hodeidah.
An explosive was detonated near the ship, and crew members saw a small vessel “acting suspiciously,” coming close to the ship and flashing a light. That was followed by a second blast.
“The vessel and crew are reported safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call,” UKMTO said in a statement.
No information was provided about either vessel.
The attacks were the first since Aug. 3, when a ship was hit by a missile.
The Houthis began their campaign to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea to show solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.
The Houthis are supported by Iran, which is weighing a possible retaliatory attack against Israel over the assassination of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in July.
Meanwhile, the United States is sending the guided missile submarine USS Georgia to the area, and the the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has been instructed to move more quickly to the Middle East.
Material from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.
